Last
week, I had the pleasure of visiting Detroit, Mich.,
to see firsthand how close collaboration between the public and private sectors
is working to transform the region’s economy and create the businesses and jobs
of the future. I was pleased to be joined
by Sandy Baruah, President and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber and also my
predecessor at the U.S. Department of Commerce during the Bush administration.

The
trip was a great opportunity to witness how the economic landscape in America’s "Motor City" is being transformed, particularly around the emerging and robust
information technology and robotics cluster, which is thriving due to the city’s skilled talent pool, affordable retail opportunities
and urban attractions such as the Fox Theater and Detroit Opera House.

There
is something positive in the air
in Detroit and the local economy is reaping the benefits. From the mayor, to members of Congress, to business leaders, to community
stakeholders—there is a shared commitment to strengthen the city and create
new jobs. Vibrant public-private partnerships are being leveraged and
driving growth.The level of collaboration that is
happening in Detroit
is impressive. At the Detroit Regional Chamber, I met with Congressmen Hansen
Clarke and John Dingell and Mayor Dave Bing’s Chief of Staff Kirk Lewis, who provided
insight into the role public-private partnerships are playing to help revitalize
the city.

Private-sector
investment is vital to sustainable growth, and Detroit is attracting businesses that will promote
job creation in the region. GalaxE.Solutions,
Inc. Chairman and CEO Tim Bryan is leading efforts to bring jobs back to Detroit that have been lost to overseas
competition. The company plans to hire 500 skilled workers to
strengthen the IT hub and breathe new life
into the region.

Compuware, which has employed 4,000 people in downtown Detroit since 2003, along with Quicken Loans—both owned
by Detroit
natives—have provided a boost to accelerate regional economic development. And
other local businesses are doing great things, like ePrize, a firm that has funded
eight business ventures with hundreds of applications awaiting review, and Detroit
Venture Partners, a firm promoting innovation and entrepreneurship to help strengthen
the economic ecosystem.

Under
President Obama’s leadership, the federal government is working to change the
way we do business, so that we can partner to catalyze the visions of strong local
leadership. The administration’s strategy to win the future
is to invest in communities like Detroit to increase competitiveness and
economic prosperity across the country.

The
recently announced Strong Cities,
Strong Communities
(SC2) initiative, which Detroit is participating in as one of six pilot cities,
aims to strengthen neighborhoods, towns, cities and regions around the country
by enhancing the capacity of local governments so they can develop and execute
their economic vision and strategies. SC2
is just one example of the many federal investments being made to jumpstart economic development and job growth
in Detroit.

EDA
is also investing in the region. Connection Point, an EDA-funded program of the
Detroit Regional Chamber, has been successful in linking Michigan-based
technology, manufacturing, and engineering companies with globally diversified
companies. The program allows large firms to take advantage of local innovation
and diversify their customer and product base.

The nation’s economy has
always depended, above all, on one thing to keep it growing: a continuous flow
of new technologies and new ideas into the marketplace. The bottom-up strategies that are fueling the
private-public partnerships in Detroit
will foster innovation and competitiveness to ensure the city is better positioned
to succeed in the 21st century global economy.

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Its amazing how these programs are suppose to help poverty stricken communities across the Country yet in the City of Chicago funding is provided to wealthy Universities. The racial biasness of this department must be stopped